We're nearly there...it's almost the 2024-2025 school year! Join us in the the excitement during our Open House Thursday August 29th at 2:00 PM. Families will be able to visit their new classrooms, meet the educators, and see classmates- we hope to see you there!

Our first day of school is Wednesday September 4th. Enjoy every last bit of summer that you can!

-Mr. Hawes

As we continue to refine the newly-revamped daily academic schedule, it's important for parents to note that our morning arrival time has been shortened to maximize our learning opportunities & academic schedule. Core academic blocks are scheduled to begin at 9:05.

To accommodate this, we'll need your help sending & spreading the message to our students about prompt arrival and breakfast procedures. Students seeking breakfast this year will be picking that up directly upon arrival and then heading to class (note: this may be a change for some who are used to visiting class first, dropping their things and then heading down to pick up breakfast).

As always, staff will be around and available in the morning to assist students who are unfamiliar with locations or procedures. Our teachers will be reviewing this new procedure in the beginning weeks of school. Thank you for your assistance in spreading the word to your students!

Parents/Caregivers must complete the Parent Permission Workflow for each student at the start of the school year to ensure handbook permissions, media releases, and any opt-outs are recorded.

Please update student and contact information using the Contact Verification Workflow, as we will not be sending paper forms this year.

The PTO is sponsoring a Kindergarten Meet-Up at the East Elementary playground prior to Open House on Thursday August 29th. Get to know other Kindergarten families and meet PTO members and East Elementary administrators. We hope to see you there!

Kindergarten Orientation takes place on September 4th (sessions beginning at 9:30, K teachers will provide sign-up options for families). K parents will hear information about the year's academic and social learning opportunities, explore the classroom space, and ask questions of your teachers before their first day of school (Kindergarten starts on 9/5).

During this session, our transportation department will be arranging for students students to experience a trip on the school bus with a quick drive around the neighborhood to review some initial bus safety and expectations. Save the date!

East Elementary uses PickUp Patrol as our hub for communicating all absences, transportation, dismissal/arrival notifications, and other parent needs with our Main Office and staff. Parents can set default transportation/dismissal changes, add notes or reminders to our staff regarding pickup changes and PickUp Patrol will generate a report for us each day to ensure we get your kiddos where they need to be...all from your phone!

It is important that parents of Kids In Action before & after-care students set their preferences for Pick Up Patrol (ex. if your student is scheduled for KIA on Wednesday but you'd like them to take the bus that day, PickUp Patrol needs to be updated. If no changes are made, they will be signed in to KIA).

PickUp Patrol provides parents with easy-to-use setup directions within the PDF below. We expect PickUp Patrol to be ready and updated for the start of school. If parents need assistance with setup after August 31st, please contact kmariani@hinghamschools.org or enelson@hinghamschools.org.

Beginning this fall, we've partnered with a new vendor for school pictures. We will no longer be using Lifetouch and Inter-State Studios will be servicing our school picture needs moving forward. This new venture promises to bring better pricing, better options (including a free class photo with every package), and improved customer service & experience.

Our school picture date is September 16th. Below you'll find resources and information from Inter-State. Parents are encouraged to set up accounts now so that they have the ability to customize packages they seek ahead of time. Please check out their resources at the link below, we'll be sending Picture Day flyers and information in the first week of school.

The East Elementary PTO meets monthly throughout the school year, with meeting dates typically taking place the second Wednesday of the month, either in the East cafeteria or the Multi-Purpose Room.

Our PTO board for the 2024-25 school year is as follows:

• Co-Presidents: Nicole Dunn, Michelle Kubec
• Co-Vice Presidents: Cheryn Byron, Barbara Fitzpatrick
• Treasurer: Aimee Glynn
• Secretary: Danielle Thomas

Meeting dates/times for the upcoming year are as follows:
9/11, 7PM

10/9, 7PM

11/13, 9:30AM

12/11, 9:30AM

1/8, 7PM

2/12, 9:30AM

3/12, 7PM

4/9, 9:30AM

5/14, 7PM

6/11, 7PM

Lunch and breakfast are served during each of our full-day sessions at East Elementary (note, no lunch is served on Early Release days). Although Massachusetts has enacted free school meals (lunch and breakfast) for all public school students, families will need to set up accounts for their student. Additional items and charges do occur when students would like to purchase a second lunch, additional milks, additional items, etc.

Below is a link to our Food Services site and families can navigate to the Pre-Payment Options tab to set up their accounts! Menus from this site will also be linked each month on our East Elementary website.

Kindergarten: Mrs. Emily Day, Mrs. Jackie McHugh, and Ms. Kathleen Kilmain

Grade 1: Mrs. Michele Morrison, Mrs. Alyce McGourty (Jordan), Mrs. Laurie Lucas, and Mrs. Darlene Martin

Grade 2: Mrs. Jean Dugan, Mrs. Allison O'Neill, Mrs. Molly Keif, and Mr. Anthony Cave (new to East Elementary!)

Grade 3: Mrs. Hillary Cicerone, Mrs. Jennifer Walsh, Mrs. Meaghan Foote, and Ms. Mairead Swords

Grade 4: Mr. Brian DeMarco, Ms. Caitlin Yannizzi, and Ms. Madeline Cannavo

Grade 5: Mrs. Jessica O'Hara, Mrs. Julie Curatola, Mrs. Karen Breen, and Mrs. Kathy Joyce

The Massachusetts Behavioral Health Helpline is available 24/7 via phone, text, or chat with translation capabilities in over 200 languages. Call takers provide clinical triage for every caller. They have a conversation with the caller and assess for formal and informal supports. Staff at the BHHL will do their best to connect callers to resources in their community that meet their needs. They will warm transfer the caller and follow up within 14 days. You can learn more at www.masshelpline.com, or call or text today: 833-773-2445.

There are also 26 physical locations across the Commonwealth where folks can receive help for behavioral health or substance use needs. Community Behavioral Health Centers (CBHCs) are hubs for timely, flexible, and individualized care both in crisis and routine situations. The expectation of the CBHC is to provide outpatients appointments within 14 days but many have open access same day appointments.

Have questions or need assistance? Reach out to us!
Jonathan Hawes, Principal: jhawes@hinghamschools.org
Dr. Amanda Donovan, Assistant Principal: adonovan@hinghamschools.org
Karen Mariani, Administrative Assistant: kmariani@hinghamschools.org

Elisa Nelson, Administrative Assistant: enelson@hinghamschools.org
Tel: (781) 741-1570